Stock tube support



Dec. 1, 1936. c. A. RIC H STOCK TUBE SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 20, 1935 INVENTOR. (Za//as* %/ilc ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 1, 1936. c. A. RICH STOCK TUBE SUPPORT Filed Dec. 20, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. (a /Aw .X/Qz'a I ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 1 1936 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE STOCK TUBE SUPPORT Application December 20, 1935, Serial No. 55,451

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a support for a stock guide tube associated with a machine for fashioning articles successively; and has for one of its objects the provision of means which will securely hold the stock guide tube in desired position to prevent the same from chattering or vibrating and thereby making an objectionable noise while the machine is operating.

Another object of the invention is the provision of some simple and inexpensive means which will constantly urge the stock guide tube against a fixed support to prevent chatter and vibration.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means so arranged that the wear of the parts which engage and hold the stock tube support against chattering or vibration will be taken up by a resilient action in the means which serve for yieldingly holding the tube in working position.

Another object of the invention is the arrange ment of the stock tube support so that the stock tube may be supported in either a loading or a working station and both of which stations may together be moved so as to completely remove the support and permit the feed tube of the associated machine to be withdrawn for changing the feeding collet.

Another object of the invention is the utilization of the clamping means for the stock guide tube to also hold the pivoted supporting member in its working position so that no separate clamping means for the supporting member need be utilized in addition to or in conjunction with the means for holding the stock guide tube in its working position.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will bemore fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine and the stock guide tube and its supports, the support nearest the machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view looking at the end nearest the machine of the stock tube support as clamping the tube shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the stock tube in section and in its loading position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the clamping lever member;

Fig. 5 is an end view looking at the opposite side of the support from the showing of Figures 2 or 3 and showing the yoke support member as swung to a position to permit removal of the feed tube from the machine.

In the use of screw machines, the support for the stock guide tube extends from one side of the machine and heretofore consisted of a construction which did not tightly clamp the stock tube so that when the machine was in operation the tube vibrated and made the operation of the machine noisy. It is also usual to load the stock tube from the end nearest the machine necessitating movement of this end of the stock tube to some position, either at one side of or above the operating parts of the machine to permit free insertion of the stock operated upon; and further, it is necessary to move the support for the stock tube in order that the feed tube may be withdrawn for changing the feeding collet at the end thereof for different sizes of stock which are to be fed through the machine. This feed tube change may be required at each set up of the machine for operation upon a different sized stock. Such movements of the support have been made heretofore by sliding or bodily moving the stock tube support from one position to another position; and I have sought to improve upon each of these functions by providing a support which will grip the stock tube sufficiently'tight so as to prevent vibration thereof. I have also provided a stock tube support having both working and loading positions, one above the other, enabling easy movement of the stock tube from one position to another, and I have so mounted the support for the stock tube that'the same may be pivoted to completely remove it from the path of movement of the feed tube so that the feed tube may be withdrawn to change the finger when the size of the work is changed, and. I have utilized the means for clamping the stock tube to also hold the yoke member, which supports the stock tube in either of its positions, firmly against pivoting movement so that no separate clamping means need be utilized for this purpose; and the following is a more detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention, illustrating the preferred means by whichthese advantageous results may be accomplished:

With reference to the drawings, l0 designates generally a machine for fashioning articles successively and in this particular instance illustrates an automatic screw machine. In this machine there is a feed tube ll having a feed collet l2 threadingly engaging one end thereof; this feed collet has resilient gripping portions l3 for gripping and feeding the stock bar forwardly in the machine and when the size of the bar of stock which is fed into the machine is changed it becomes necessary to remove the feed tube by withdrawing it from the machine and changing the feed collet and in some cases also changing the feed tube, as is well-known to those skilled in the operation of screw machines of this character.

In order to guide the bar of stock into the machine for successively fashioning the articles desired, a guide tube 28 is provided and is usually supported at spaced points so as to direct the stock bar into the feed tube. The support for this tube at the end distant from the machine is designated 2| and consists of pedestal or base 22 having an upright post 23 and a head portion 24 through which the guide tube extends, there being usually a leather bushing or sleeve within the opening through the head .24 for accommodation of the guide tube which will permit swinging of the tube at an angle to the axis of the opening. The guide tube is supported at the end nearest the machine by a support 25 which is mounted upon a bracket 26 on the frame of the.

machine H), the subject matter of this invention particularly centralizing about the support 25.

Each of these supports 2| and 25 have arms 21 and 28 on either side for receiving stock 29 to be stored and loaded into the guide tube 20, which loading occurs at the end adjacent the machine inasmuch as the machines are usually so positioned in the shop where they operate that space is not available for loading the guide tube from the end distant from the machine.

In the bracket 26 a post 30 is adjustably held by means of set screw 3|. At the upper end of this post I provide a clamping head for the guide tube having a body 32.which has a bore 33 to receive the post 30. This body is held on the post against rotation by the set screw 34 threaded through the body and engaging the post.

A portion 35 of the body extends obliquely upwardly from the cylindrical portion 32 in which oblique portion a shaft 36 is supported which in turn pivotally mounts the boss 31 of the yoke member 38. This yoke member is generally U- shaped with a short arm 39 and a long arm 40, the boss 31 being located at substantially the end of the short arm 39 and the arrangement being such that a projection 4| at the bend of the U rests upon a pin 42 which protrudes from the body 32 in a plane passing through the axis of the post 30 and provides an abutment upon which the protuberance 4| rests so that the yoke is urged toward the abutment 42 by gravity and maintains a natural position, such as illustrated in Figures 2 or 3. The crotch 43 of the yoke member 38 provides a rest or support for the guide tube 28 in its working station and the adjustment of the body 32 and post 38 are such that when the guide tube 20 is in this crotch it will be in substantially axial alignment with the feed tube ll of the machine so that work in the guide tube 20 may be fed axially of the tube into the machine.

In order to load the guide tube from the end nearest the machine, it is necessary that the guide tube be moved from this working station; and in order that the guide tube may have a definite loading station distinct from the working station, I shape the upper end of the long arm to provide a recess 44 into which the tube 28 may be lifted from its working station in the crotch 43 where it may be fully supported and held against jarring from such position by the upwardly protruding portions 45 and 46 at either side thereof.

The yoke which supports the guide tube in either its working or loading position is of necessity in the path of withdrawal of the feed tube from the machine; and in order for the feed tube to be withdrawn from the machine and the collet with its feeding fingers changed when the size of the stock fed is changed, it is necessary that the yoke member be removed from obstructing position. This removal I have accomplished by pivotally mounting the boss 37 of the yoke on the shaft 36; and accordingly, when I wish to withdraw the feed tube for any purpose whatsoever it is merely necessary for me to swing the clamp lever from clamping position, and swing the yoke 38 about its pivot 36, so that the end H of its short arm 39 will engage the abutment 48 at the end of the offset portion 35 of the body, the position of the yoke 38 then being as illustrated in Figure 5, in which position by reason of the long extended arm 40 this yoke will remain by gravity so as to permit freedom of access to the feed tube such as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 5; thus, the support with its two stations are moved simultaneously from one position to another to allow free access to the feed tube for manipulation of the same.

As has been previously explained, the stock guide tube is apt to chatter or shake in its supports due to the vibration of the machine and make a noise which it is desired should be avoided; and in order to prevent or minimize such noise and vibration I have provided a means for clamping the guide tube in position and at the same time clamping the swingable tube support in its position, as will now be explained.

This clamping is accomplished by means of a lever member 50 which has a bore 51 extending inwardly from one end to join a transverse slot 5| for the reception of a pin 52 which extends from the body portion 35 on the opposite side of the body from the mounting of the boss 31. In this bore 51 and extending into the slot 5| there is provided a plunger 53 which is forced 'into engagement with the pin 52 by a spring 54 in the bore 51, which spring is held in position by a cotter pin 55 extending through aligned diametrically opposite openings 58 and across the bore 51 in the end of the lever, which spring forces the lever downwardly with relation to the pivot pin 52. with a finger 58 adjacent its handle end 59 having a roller 60 at the tip end of the finger 58. This lever 58 may be grasped by its handle 59 and swung about the pin 52 as a center and as the roller 60 engages the guide tube 28 further force causes the lever to be moved upwardly against the tension of the spring 54 until it is passed over the center of the tube and then it is drawn downwardly by the spring to force the tube against the crotch 43 and thus tightly hold the tube in its working station between the yoke member and this clamping lever member; while at the same time the urge of the spring 5| is such as to hold the pivoted yoke against the abutment 42 so as to prevent any vibration or lifting of the yoke about its pivot 36. The yielding action of the lever is such that it may be easily and quickly moved to or from operating position and thus providing an easy clamping or release of all of the parts.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A support for a bar stock guide tube comprising a firmly supported member to engage one This clamp lever 50' is provided side of the tube, a member to engage the other side of the tube, and resilient means urging the second member toward the first member to securely hold the guide tube between the members.

2. A support for a bar stock guide tube comprising a member having a firm support upon which the guide tube may rest, a movable member extending over to engage the upper side of the tube, and resilient means urging the movable member downwardly toward the other member to securely hold the guide tube.

3. A support for a bar stock guide tube comprising a stand, a work support member pivoted to the stand, an abutment for limiting the movement of the support member in one direction, a clamp member movably mounted on said stand, said guide tube being supported between said members, and resilient means acting through the guide tube to move said support member into engagement with said abutment.

4. A support for a bar stock guide tube comprising a stand, a work support member pivoted to the stand, an abutment for limiting the movement of the support member in one direction, a clamp member movably mounted on said stand, and resilient means urging the clamp member toward the stand and support member to grip and securely hold the guide tube between said members and the support member against movement about its pivot.

5. A support for a bar stock guide tube comprising a stand, a yoke-shaped member provid ing an upwardly directed crotch for the reception of said guide tube, a movable clamp member having a portion swingable over the tube, and resilient means on said clamp member to hold the guide tube securely in said crotch.

6. A support for a bar stock guide tube comprising a stand having an upright portion with an abutment thereon and an offset portion, a yoke-shaped member pivoted on said offset portion and resting against said abutment as one limit of its pivotal movement and providing in such position an upwardly directed crotch for the reception of said guide tube, a movable clamp member having a portion swingable over the tube, and resilient means on said clamp member to hold the guide tube securely in said crotch and said pivoted yoke member against its abutment.

'7. A support for a bar stock guide tube comprising a firmly supported member for engaging one side of the tube, a clamp member having a portion swingable over the tube and a roller on said portion to engage said tube as swung thereover, and resilient means urging said clamp member toward said support member for gripping said tube.

8. A support for a bar stock guide tube comprising a stand, a member having two tube supporting stations each presenting a separate and dis- 10. A support for a bar stock guide tube comprising a stand, a member pivoted on said stand and swingable to and from two positions, said member having two tube supporting stations, and

when in one position, one station positioning said tube in working position and the other station positioning said work in loading position.

11. A support for a bar stock guide tube comprising a stand, a member pivoted on said stand and having two tube supporting stations, one station positioning said tube in working position and the other station. positioning said work in loading position, the tube being movable from one position to another without and independent of movement of said member, both stations being movable together for swinging the member about its pivot from its operative to its inoperative position. V

12. In combination with a machine for fashioning articles successively and having a removable feed tube or the like, a stand for a bar stock guide tube comprising a member pivoted thereon and when in working position in the path of withdrawal of said feed tube, said member having a loading station and a working station for said guide tube, said member being movable to swing both of said stations about its pivot and move the member from the path of withdrawal of said feed tube.

13. In combination with a machine for fashioning articles successively and having a removable feed tube or the like, a stand for a bar stock guide tube comprising a member pivoted thereon and when in working position in the path of withdrawal of said feed tube, said member having a working station for said guide tube and being movable to swing about its pivot so as to remove itself from the path of withdrawal of said feed tube.

14. In combination with a machine for fashioning articles successively and having a removable feed tube or the like, a pivoted support for a bar stock guide tube having two positions in which it is held by its own weight and in one of which it holds the guide tube in alignment with the feed tube and in the other of which it is free of the path of withdrawal of the feed tube.

CHARLES A. RICH. 

